New Delhi authorities on Tuesday, May 21, ordered the early closure of schools in the Indian capital for the summer holidays, with “immediate effect,” according to the local press, due to extreme temperatures. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted a “severe heatwave” this week. On Monday, it was 47.8°C in Najafgarh on the outskirts of Delhi, the highest temperature in the entire country.
Authorities in several states, including Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, in the north and central parts of the country, have also ordered schools to close, according to India Today.
In May 2022, some areas of Delhi experienced temperatures as high as 49.2°C. On the other hand, southern Indian states, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, have experienced heavy rains in recent days.
Severe storms also hit parts of the country last week, including the financial capital, Mumbai, where the power of the wind caused a billboard on a gas station to fall. Sixteen people were killed and several dozen others injured.
Last month, an exceptional heat wave affected South and Southeast Asia, notably the Philippines and Bangladesh, where thousands of schools suspended classes. According to scientific research, heat waves are longer, more frequent and more intense due to global warming.
Currently, 968 million Indians, more than the population of the European Union, Russia and the United States combined, are called to elect the 543 members of the lower house. The sixth phase of these general elections, which include seven and take place until June 1, will take place on Saturday, notably in Delhi.
India’s Election Commission said last month it had formed a task force to examine the impact of heatwaves and humidity ahead of each phase of voting. Participation in the general elections is lower than in 2019, and analysts attribute this decline to the high heat and others to “a certain disinterest” among voters for an election without surprises.
Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a third term, was predicted to be the winner by political analysts well before the election began on April 19.